There are some decent animals on display at Turffontein on Saturday and Almond Sea is probably the best of them.
This Tony Peter-trained sprinter will line up in Race 7, the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes over 1160m on the Turffontein Standside track.
The three-year-old Canford Cliffs filly has won four of her seven starts and does have valid excuses for the three defeats.
Slow starts in her last two performances have led to defeats, but not by very far.
Almond Sea returned from a break when third and 1.25Lengths behind Ice Star over 1000m at Turffontein in November after being slowly away.
The three-year-old filly chased home the speedy Chocolate Soldier on a soft track again after losing ground at the start.
Interestingly, all three of her defeats have come in soft going and the good news for her connections is that good weather is predicted for the next few days so the track should have dried out immeasurably.
It is the third run back for her and the first time jockey Gavin Lerena gets aboard. He is riding at the top of his game and that could make all the difference.
Earlier on the card, in Race 2, the highest-rated maiden in South Africa will runs in a Maiden Plate over 1160m.
Winds Of Change has a merit-rating of 107 after some good efforts in Grade 1 races last year.
The What A Winter colt has not run since July but his trainers, the father and son team of Michael and Adam Azzie, will never run an unfit horse and he should finally win.
Clive Robinson
